Hadithcore
Riyad as-Salihin, 421

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious said: 'A slave committed a sin and he said: O Allah, forgive my sin,' and Allah said: 'My slave committed a sin and then he realized that he has a Rubb Who forgives the sins and punishes for the sin.' He then again committed a sin and said: 'My Rubb, forgive my sin,' and Allah (SWT) said: 'My slave committed a sin and then realized that he has a Rubb Who forgives his sin and punishes for the sin.' He again committed a sin and said: 'My Rubb, forgive my sin,' and Allah (SWT) said: 'My slave has committed a sin and then realized that he has a Rubb Who forgives the sin or takes (him) to account for sin. I have granted forgiveness to my slave. Let him do whatever he likes". <b>[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]</b>. The last sentence "let him do..". means, as long he keeps asking for forgiveness after the commission of sins, and repents, Allah will forgive him because repentance eliminates previous sins". (Editor's Note)

وعنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فيما يحكى عن ربه، تبارك وتعالى، قال‏:‏ “أذنب عبدي ذنباً، فقال‏:‏ اللهم اغفر لى ذنبي، فقال الله تبارك وتعالى‏:‏ أذنب عبدى ذنبا، فعلم أن له رباً يغفر الذنب، ويأخذ بالذنب، ثم عاد فأذنب، فقال‏:‏ أي رب اغفر لي ذنبي، فقال تبارك وتعالى‏:‏ أذنب عبدي ذنباً، فعلم أن له رباً يغفر الذنب، ويأخذ بالذنب، ثم عاد فأذنب، فقال‏:‏ أي رب اغفر لى ذنبي، فقال، تبارك وتعالى‏:‏ أذنب عبدي ذنباً، فعلم أن له رباً يغفر الذنب، ويأخذ بالذنب، قد غفرت لعبدى فليفعل ما شاء” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏ وقوله تعالى‏:‏ “فليفعل ما شاء” أي‏:‏ ما دام يفعل هكذا، يذنب ويتوب اغفر له، فإن التوبة تهدم ما قبلها‏.

References1 variant
In-Book Reference
Introduction, Hadith 421
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br> 1) It shows the grace and mercy of Allah towards His servants, as long as they believe that He is the Disposer of their affairs. This indicates the merit of Tawhid.<br> 2) True repentance expiates sins. So, whenever a person commits a sin, let him repent from it.
Related hadiths4
Compare isnād across 4 related chains →